Summary: Utter fluff between Grayson and Laurel on Valentine’s Day, and Grayson finally gives in to something he’s been resisting.
On their first Valentine’s Day together, Grayson surprises her with breakfast in bed. It’s still dark out as he makes his way over to her, murmuring good morning as he brushes his lips over hers.
“You wake up way too early,” Laurel yawns, but she’s smiling as she pushes herself to sit up.
Grayson is already showered and dressed, his blonde hair still slightly damp. The tray he carries is laden with a plate stacked with pancakes and fluffy scrambled eggs, a steaming mug of the coffee he’s gotten her hooked on, and a vase containing several vibrant orange and pink lilies. She’s never been a big fan of roses, but she’s always loved lilies. Laurel breathes in the fragrant scent of the flowers, then tugs Grayson down to sit next to her.
“Thank you,” she says against his mouth, kissing him sweetly.
He shrugs, smiling as he kisses her back, his hand threading into her hair. “I know you’re not usually big on Valentine’s Day,” he begins, “but I thought your favorite flowers and coffee would be a good start to the day.”
Laurel takes a sip of the coffee, wrapping her hands around the warmth of the mug.
“I will never complain about flowers and coffee.”
Of course, Grayson pressed against her side as she eats and playfully feeds him a few bites of her pancakes is also a good way to start the day. The way he watches her as she undresses to shower, making her stomach flutter, and presses delicate kisses to the back of her neck when he helps put her necklace on are good, too.
Laurel turns in his arms as he grazes his teeth over her skin, his hands dipping to rest low on her back.
“I love you,” he murmurs.
“I love you, too,” she sighs.
Her eyes drift closed as Grayson kisses her, lightly at first, then deeper when her fingers fist in his red dress shirt. The back of her thighs have just bumped the edge of the mattress when her phone starts ringing shrilly.
Laurel groans as she opens her eyes and glances to the nightstand. “That’s probably Kenji,” she says.
She’s helping him set The Grand up for an event tonight, and she’s promised to be there early.
Grayson tilts her chin up, sneaking one last lingering kiss that makes her whimper quietly.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he says.
Kenji gives her grief for not having anything planned for Valentine’s Day as they set up, then launches into what he’s done for his girlfriends in the past.
“You are exhausting,” Laurel laughs.
Still, as much as she’s looking forward to spending the night at home with Grayson and eating their favorite take out, Kenji’s stories give her an idea.
She meets Grayson at the door when he gets home, wondering if she can persuade him to go along with what she’s planned.
“Hi,” she greets him.
“Hi.”
She’s wearing her shoes and a jacket and not her usual after work casual wear, and he looks at her curiously. The weather has been unseasonably warm, enough to ditch their winter coats and ensure they won’t freeze when they’re out tonight.
Laurel threads her fingers with his. “I was thinking…I want to show you something.”
She leads him to the balcony.
“The balcony?” he teases her. “I’m familiar with it.”
She pokes his side. “No.”
Laurel gestures to the bridge that’s just visible from their apartment, the one that offers incredible views of the river below and the downtown lights of Northbridge.
Understanding crosses his face, followed by hesitation.
She’s never been able to convince him to let her fly with him, reminding her each time how much he doesn’t like heights. Even when they’re running late for work or know they’ll get stuck in traffic, he won’t give in.
“You know I won’t drop you,” Laurel says, squeezing his hands.
To prove her point about her strength, she turns and wraps her hands around his waist and lifts him a few inches, making him chuckle.
“I know,” Grayson says. “I’m just not a fan of heights.”
“Your office and your apartment are almost on the top floors,” she points out.
“Yes,” he agrees. “With walls and railings.”
“But I am your girlfriend with super strength,” Laurel replies.
Grayson laughs again, shaking his head.
“Alright,” he finally says slowly.
She can tell he’s nervous as she tightens her grip on him and slowly rises into the air. She talks about work that day, mostly to distract him as she flies higher and speeds up a little bit. Gradually she feels him relax as she tells him about Kenji’s Valentine’s Day antics.
“Almost there,” she says as the bridge looms closer, and feels him exhale a quiet sigh of what sounds like relief.
She lands on the platform on top of the bridge, watching Grayson take in the city lights and water below them. They can see The Grand from here, and her old apartment building, and the outline of Prescott Industries.
“Told you I wouldn’t drop you,” she smiles, nudging Grayson.
He wraps an arm around her waist, tucking her in close as a light gust of wind whistles around them.
“And there’s even a railing,” she says, gesturing to the short, admittedly not very sturdy looking metal bars surrounding them.
Grayson laughs. “You could probably bend those in half, Laurel.”
“Probably,” she agrees.
“It is beautiful up here, though,” he says after a moment, squeezing her hip.
She tilts her head up, sighing as Grayson’s lips find hers, his gloves hands coming up to caress her face. When they reluctantly pull apart, he keeps her close as the wind picks up a little.
“What made you finally change your mind?” she asks, her voice slightly muffled against his coat.
She feels more than hears his quiet chuckle.
“You’ve been very persistent,” he says. “And I was remembering last night that the first time we actually met was on Valentine’s Day.”
It surprises her a little, that he remembers that. Okay, and it’s a little mortifying. She’d been in a rush on her way to class and plowed right into him, dropping her bag and sending his coffee flying. He’d laughed it off and helped her pick up her belongings while her face burned red and people giggled as they’d walked by.
“I much prefer this Valentine’s Day,” Laurel mumbles.
Grayson tucks his thumb under her chin and tilts her face up, a hint of a smile on his face.
“I do too,” he agrees, then leans in and kisses her again, his lips warm and insistent against hers.
His arms block out most of the wind as she rises on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Let’s go home,” she gasps as he kisses her harder, teasing her lower lip between his teeth.
Grayson’s blue eyes burn into hers when he leans back, filling her with warmth and desire. She wonders if she can convince him to let her fly faster on the way home.